Cotton-stalk cutter.



P. G. HALLMARK. COTTON STALK CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1909.

945,090. Patented Jan.4, 1910. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1 11mm m l lllill II II 0 Wit-Mme:

P. G. HALLMARK.

GOTTON BTALK CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1908. 945,090, Patented Jan.4, 1910.

Sywenl'oz Witnwoeo OFFICE.

PLES C. HALLMARK, 0F SPARTA, TEXAS.

COTTON-STALK CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

Application filed November 3, 1908. Serial No. 460,852.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PLES C. HALLMARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sparta, in the county of Bell, State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Stalk Cutters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to cotton stalk cutters and its object is to provide an improved form of cotton stalk cutter wherein the cutting knives will be supported in a novel manner and arranged so that they can be simultaneously adjusted.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction of the frame and axle in such a cutter.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists, in general, of a wheel. supported axle carrying a frame, cutter knives mounted on the axle, and means to adjust the relation of the axle and the frame.

The invention further consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the invention. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the invention. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section on the line 1% of Fig. 1.

The numeral 10 indicates the axle of this machine. This axle is provided with upwardly extending portions 11 and journal portions 12. Between the upwardly extending portions 11 and the body of the axle 10 are braces 13 which run diagonally from the angle between the portions 11 and 12 toward the center of the body 10.

Wheels 14: are mounted upon the ends of the portions 12. An inverted U-shaped frame 15 is rotatably mounted on the portions 12, the downwardly extending legs 16 of the frame being provided with journal boxes 17 for this purpose. Attached to the center of the horizontal portion of the frame 15 is a draft pole 18. Extending from the lower end of the leg 16 are braces 19 which are connected to the draft pole by means of a foot-board 20. A seat 21 of any desired form is supported on the pole 18 in such position that a person seated thereon can readily place his feet upon the foot-board 20.

A latch lever 22 is provided with a journal 23 which rotates on one of the portions 12 of the axle between the frame journal and the wheel 14. Upon the frame leg 16 adjacent the latch lever is rigidly mounted a quadrant 2t so arranged that the latch of the latch lever will engage the teeth of the quadrant; The latch lever 22 is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 25 preferably located at a point about half way between the horizontal member of the frame 1.5 and the lower end of said latch lever. The outer or free end of this member 25 is connected to the axle 10 by means of a pivoted link 26.

Securely attached to the axle 1,0 and preferably at the points of junction between the braces 13 and the axle 10 are standards 27 each having upon its lower end a rigidly connected knife 28 arranged so that the free end of the knife extends forward at an angle to the axle.

It is to be noted that the device as thus constructed is of great simplicity and does away with the many parts usually employed in devices of this character so that the machine can be constructed in a simpler and more eificient manner.

In the operation of the device, the same is drawn along the rows of plants after the cotton has been picked and in such position that the knives will contact with the stalks in adjacent rows, thus cutting two of the rows at the same time, the knives being adjusted for the proper height by means of the latch lever 22 which varies the angular position of the axle members 11. with respect to the frame members 16.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of this invention without departing from the material rineiples thereof. It is therefore not desirecl'to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described but it is wished to include all such as come within its scope.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. In a device of the class described, a U- shaped axle, wheels journaled on and sup orting said axle, an inverted U-shaped rame journaled on said axle, a latch lever provided with a projecting arm journaled on said axle, and a link connecting the lower portion of the axle with the end of the arm on said latch lever.

2. In a device of the kind described, an axle provided with laterally extending j0urnals and a centrally disposed U-shaped portion, a pair of supporting wheels mounted on said journals, an upwardly extending inverted U-shaped frame having the lower ends of its legs j ournaled on the axle inside said wheels, a draft pole arranged to hold said frame in substantially vertical position when draft animals are attached thereto, and means to change the position of the U- shaped portion of said axle with angular relation to the upstanding frame comprising a latch lever journaled on one of said axle journal portions between the frame and wheel, a quadrant rigidly attached to said U-shaped frame adjacent said latch lever, a rearwardly projecting arm rigidly attached to said latch lever, and a link pivotally connected'to the free end of said arm and the lower portion of one of the legs of the U shaped part of the axle.

3. In a device of the class described, an axle provided with laterally extending ournals and a centrally-disposed U-shaped portion, a pair of supporting wheels mounted on said journals, an upwardly extending inverted U-shaped frame having the lower ends of its legs journaled onthe axle inside said wheels, a draft pole arranged to hold said frame in substantially vertical position when draft animals are attached thereto, means to change the position of the U-shaped portion of said axle with angular relation tion, a pair of supporting wheels mounted f on said ournals, an upwardly extending inverted U-shaped frame havlng the lower ends of its legs ournal-ed on the axle inside said wheels, a draft pole arranged to hold said frame in substantially vertical position when draft animals are attached thereto, means to change the position of the U shaped portion of said axle with angular relation to the upstanding frame comprising a latch lever journaled on one of said axle journal portions between the frame and wheel, a quadrant rigidly attached to said U-shaped frame adjacent said latch lever, a rearwardly projecting armrigidly attached to said latch lever, a link pivotally connected to the free end of said arm and the lower portion of one of the legs of the Ushaped part of the axle, standards rigidly mounted on the U-shaped portion of said axle, and cutter knives rigidly attached to said standards.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

PLES C. HALLMARK.

lVitnesses J. G. BROWN, IV. S. VVISEMAN. 

